Doo wop icons coming to Z Saturday

Thursday

Aug 21, 2014 at 12:01 AMAug 22, 2014 at 8:45 AM

For doo wop fans eager to return to the days of poodle skirts and late night drive-in movies, the Zeiterion will celebrate the nostalgic sounds of the post-war era in "Todd Baptista's Doo Wop 10: Summer Spectacular."

Brian J. Lowney

Do you remember riding around with your friends in a '57 Chevy convertible or hanging out with your buddies at the malt shop listening to the soulful sounds of popular vocal groups such as the Shirelles and the Solitaires?

These talented vocalists and other groups like them popularized doo wop, a style of rhythm and blues that emerged in many African American communities during the '50s and early '60s. In an era when rock 'n' roll was young, these pioneering musical artists quickly catapulted to the top of the charts and achieved widespread fame with classic sounds that featured vocal harmony, simple lyrics, and a lot of soul.

For doo wop fans eager to return to the days of poodle skirts, late night drive-in movies and vinyl records, the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center will celebrate the nostalgic sounds of the post-war era in "Todd Baptista's Doo Wop 10: Summer Spectacular" at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Shirley Alston Reeves, original lead singer of the Shirelles, will headline the three-hour show, which also features performances by The Solitaires, Eddy Rich and The Swallows, and The Mystics. Professional musicians who have played alongside some of the world's leading musical artists will accompany the vocalists.

"This was the music of my parents' generation," Baptista begins, adding that he grew up listening to doo wop on the radio. The 46-year-old Westport resident is the son of Carol and the late Randy Baptista, who passed away in 2005.

"When I was 5 years old, my parents brought me to see some of the shows," Baptista recalls. He enjoyed concerts by such legendary entertainers as the Drifters, Dion, Elvis Presley and the Shirelles.

By the time he was 7, Baptista says he knew the names of all the vocalists when they walked on stage. The youngster developed a strong interest in music, and played the saxophone in the New Bedford High School Whalers Marching Band.

While music was a passion, Baptista chose to pursue a career as a pharmacist and writer. He's written four books about the doo wop pioneers, including "Group Harmony: Echoes of the Rhythm and Blues Era," which is still in print.

"I was amazed how many stories that they had of performing and travel and the stories had never been told," he acknowledges.

Baptista says he developed the idea for the doo wop concert series after attending several performances by vocalists who were not original group members and who misrepresented their authenticity.

"Many of the original performers had drifted into obscurity," he continues. "I wanted to bring them out as individuals both in writing and in shows."

Since organizing the series in 2006, Baptista has formed friendships with many of the doo wop era vocalists, and occasionally advocates for the performers or their heirs to obtain royalties for their music.

"Many of the people I grew up idolizing are now my friends," he acknowledges.

Baptista notes that the concert series attracts doo wop fans of all ages from as far away as New York and New Jersey. He's often heartened by the number of grandparents who bring younger generations of their families to enjoy and appreciate this important part of American musical history.

He decided this year to host a late summer concert instead of a fall event to allow vacationers and snowbirds an opportunity to enjoy the nostalgic music that often evokes many happy memories of less stressful times.

"When you come to a show like 'Doo Wop,' the audience experiences a euphoric recall from their heyday," observes Penny Pimental, marketing manager at the Zeiterion Theater. "There's an energy that fills the theater on those nights."

Baptista says concertgoers can expect to enjoy at least 40 songs, including such doo wop classics as "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," sung by Reeves, "Hushabye," performed by The Mystics, "Will You Be Mine," featuring the soothing sounds of Eddie Rich and The Swallows, and "Walking Along," sung by The Solitaires.

According to the concert host, these vocalists have never appeared together on the same bill, despite entertaining for more than 50 years. While many of the initial group members are deceased, each act will have at least one original performer.

"It's a night to relive the time when rock 'n' roll was young and music was fun," Baptista notes, adding that the concert also allows the performers to reconnect with their fans from long ago.

"Some groups haven't been seen in our area in many years," he says.

Baptista adds that the concerts always evoke fond memories of his late father.

"My passion for the music came from him," he says. "He'd be the biggest cheerleader. The bond that we had transcends the passage from this life to the next."

Local businessman Joe Jesus, who annually organizes the cruise night in downtown New Bedford, will showcase several restored classic cars in front of the theater before the performance.